Strawberry Meringue Roses
Strawberry meringue cookies are impressive yet simple, take just 30 minutes of active time to make, and are naturally flavored and colored using freeze-dried strawberries.
Servings: 6
Calories: 36kcal
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon powdered freeze-dried strawberries (see step 1 in recipe below)
- 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 large egg white, room temperature
- 1 pinch salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cream of tartar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- sugar pearl sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Place freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor and blend until they become a fine powder.
- Measure 1 Tablespoon of the freeze-dried strawberry powder and combine with the sugar in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Preheat oven to 225°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Wash and dry a large glass or metal mixing bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer) to ensure that it’s completely free of grease. Add the room temperature egg white, salt, and cream of tartar to the bowl.
- Using a handheld electric mixer (or a stand mixer with the whisk attachment), stir the egg mixture on low speed until it becomes frothy. Then beat the mixture on high speed until it is no longer translucent and has doubled in volume.
- Continue to beat the egg mixture on high speed while gradually adding the sugar mixture 1 Tablespoon at a time. Wait 10 seconds between adding each spoonful of sugar. (Adding the sugar too quickly could deflate the meringue.) Continue to beat the mixture until it becomes thick and stiff peaks form (see recipe note for guidance).
- Add vanilla extract and beat just until combined.
- Transfer the meringue to a piping bag fitted with a star tip (I used a Wilton 1M piping tip).
- Holding the bag upright, pipe a tight swirl, beginning in the center and circling outward to create a rose shape. When you finish piping each rose, pull the bag away to the side rather than straight up to avoid creating any small peaks that could burn in the oven.
- Bake for 45 minutes. Do not open the oven door during baking. When the meringues are finished baking, turn off the oven but still do not open the oven door. Allow the meringues to sit in the oven for 1 hour before removing the baking sheets from the oven and allowing them to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Once completely cooled, decorate the meringue roses with pearl sprinkles (if using).
Notes
Storage: Meringue cookies are best when eaten fresh. If not eating right away, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a day.
Be sure that there is no egg yolk mixed in with the egg white. Egg yolk contains fat, and fat will keep the white from whipping properly. If you accidentally get a bit of egg yolk in the white when separating the egg, start over with another egg.
Be sure that the bowl you're using to make the meringue is clean and dry before you begin baking. If there's any grease in the bowl, it will mix with the egg white and keep it from whipping properly. Similarly, any water or other liquid in the bowl will ruin your meringue.
To check for stiff peaks, turn off the mixer and lift your beaters straight up from the bowl. If you see formed peaks with tips that remain upright, you have stiff peaks.
Be careful not to over whip the meringue. Doing so will dry out the egg white and affect the texture of the meringue. Be sure to beat the meringue just until stiff peaks form. The mixture should be thick and glossy.
Nutrition
Serving: 2cookies | Calories: 36kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 52mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 1mg